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Blessed Are The Merciful Mercy applied: –Not based on what a person deserves –Not about what you feel, but what they feel

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Blessed Are The Merciful More important than “religion”: Matt 9:13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

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Blessed Are The Merciful “…for they shall receive mercy” –To receive mercy, must show mercy –If shown mercy, should give mercy Eph 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

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Blessed Are The Pure In Heart What it means to be pure in heart: –Undivided; without hypocrisy; single, sincere, true –Open, nothing hidden –Genuine, authentic

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is not… –One who seeks peace above all else “first pure, then peaceable...” -- Jas 3.17 –So much as it depends on you Rom 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is not… –One who cowers from confrontation 2 Tim 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is not… –One who seeks an outward peace by force

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is… –One who is not quarrelsome, contentious, or argumentative 1 Tim 3:3 “not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.”

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is… –One who is not quarrelsome, contentious, or argumentative 2 Tim 2:24-25 “The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition…”

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is… –One who is not quarrelsome, contentious, or argumentative Titus 3:2 “…to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is… –One who is not easily offended or angered 1 Cor 13:5 “Love…does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered”

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers A peacemaker is… –One who actively pursues peace when he sees conflict -- 1 Pet 3.11; Mt 5.23-24 1 Pet 3:8-11 “To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, LET HIM WHO MEANS TO LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE. AND LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT”

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers “…for they shall be called sons of God”.

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Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Persecuted For The Sake Of Righteousness Not “Blessed are those who have been persecuted.” –Rather, “…persecuted for the sake of righteousness”

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Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Persecuted For The Sake Of Righteousness Why rejoice? –Evidence that we are in the kingdom of heaven – Mt 5.10 A sign that we are worthy of suffering for Christ – Acts 5.41

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Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Persecuted For The Sake Of Righteousness Why rejoice? –Drawn closer to God and his strength 2 Cor 12:9-10 “And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

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Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Persecuted For The Sake Of Righteousness Why rejoice? –Ultimate reward in heaven – Mt 5.12 Mt 5.12 “…for your reward in heaven is great”

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Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Persecuted For The Sake Of Righteousness Why rejoice? –Opportunity to bring glory to Christ.

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Blessed Are The Merciful Blessed Are The Pure In Heart Blessed Are The Peacemakers Blessed Are Those Who Have Been Persecuted For The Sake Of Righteousness Our (Be)Attitudes Toward One Another